Steven Yan’s Posts on ExposureProduct at Zendesk in San Francisco.http://stevenyan.co
Destination FlatheadMidway through our trip to Banff and Jasper NP last year, Cec and I were already inspired for our next road trip.I still remember driving down Hwy 93 into Polson, getting my first glimpse of Flathead Lake. "How did I miss this?" On a map, Flathead Lake is a sizeable -- yet just another -- sky blue colored lake (why do maps choose that color if no lakes are ever that color?). In person, it looks like an ocean. It's the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.As the minutes turned into an hour of driving along Flathead Lake last summer, we knew we needed to return. If anything, just to bask in its huge-ness.]]>
Tue, 23 Aug 2016 07:00:00 +0000http://stevenyan.co/destination-flathead
http://stevenyan.co/destination-flatheadFAROESE, PART 1As I've become busier, I've noticed that I'm beholden to always having a plan. Days gets partitioned into 30 and 60 minute blocks. Life gets reduced to a list.In September, I found myself headed to Copenhagen for business, with a free weekend to spare and - uncharacteristically - no plan. After a long week of work, I wasn't looking forward to that isolated feeling that can sometimes come with being alone in a new city, surrounded by crowds of strangers. Instead, on a sunny Friday afternoon, I boarded Atlantic Airways 453.]]>
Fri, 23 Sep 2016 07:00:00 +0000http://stevenyan.co/faroese-part-1
http://stevenyan.co/faroese-part-1FAROESE, PART 2I had just gotten off the phone with the office at Strandfaraskip Landsins and didn't feel much more confident. After going through two people to find someone who could speak English well enough to cover the broad range of questions I had: "Turn left at the hook and look for a boat named 'Sam'."The ferries run on a more sparse schedule in the winter; I was worried about missing the first ferry and having to wait hours for the next, so I set off for Kláksvik early the next morning. It turns out that "the hook" is a giant fish hook sculpture in the middle of a roundabout as you enter town. I made a beeline for the nearest semblance of a harbor-looking structure, and spotted what appeared to be a ferry that could carry a car.The ferry was empty. I looked in vain for some kind of ticket office where I could purchase my fare or perhaps someone prepping the ferry that I could talk to. Unable to find either, I resigned to sitting and waiting. Twenty minutes later, a middle-aged gentleman rolled up in a car and unceremoniously raised the gate to enter the ferry.The islands were telling me yet again: "Slow down. You'll get there, eventually."]]>
Fri, 23 Sep 2016 07:00:00 +0000http://stevenyan.co/faroese-part-2
http://stevenyan.co/faroese-part-2Lena and HenryI was honored to shoot an engagement session for two very good friends, Lena and Henry. We picked a warm and clear July afternoon to visit their most sentimental places in San Francisco. Each location represents a first in their relationship.]]>
Sat, 18 Jul 2015 07:00:00 +0000http://stevenyan.co/lena-and-henry
http://stevenyan.co/lena-and-henryThe Northwest LoopSteven: "How did we decide to go to Banff?"Cecilia: "You wanted to go to Banff."And so we went. Sometimes the simplest decisions are the best.]]>
Sun, 21 Jun 2015 07:00:00 +0000http://stevenyan.co/the-northwest-loop
http://stevenyan.co/the-northwest-loopStarspottingAs we coasted off the highway, the car shuddered and sighed as if it too needed a breather. I was in search of that Limon-Pepino Gatorade that I only seemed to be able to find at gas stations in Central California and the Southwest. This had become one of my road trip rituals. Kind of like how I only drink ginger ale on airplanes.We had been driving for a solid 8 hours. With every mile driven, we descended further into the furnace that was the Southwest that day. Even with the windows rolled up and the A/C on, we couldn’t escape the relentless, radiant heat from above, cooking our arms and legs through the windshield.Bottle of lime-cucumber liquid magic in hand, I strolled out of Chevron. Behind the dilapidated Big Boy Motel, the world’s tallest thermometer quantified the obvious: it was a hot day — 111 degrees hot — and it was going to be a hot night.]]>
Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:00:00 +0000http://stevenyan.co/starspotting
http://stevenyan.co/starspottingPuppy in a tub.He’s a 12-week old sable German Shepherd puppy.Did you know that when puppies get excited they pee on themselves? We gave him a bath.]]>
Sun, 20 Jul 2014 05:48:47 +0000http://stevenyan.co/puppy-in-a-tub
http://stevenyan.co/puppy-in-a-tubBreakfast in MelbourneLittle Mule Co is a bicycle cafe tucked away on a side alley off of Little Bourke Street. I would have missed it had I taken the alleyway construction at face value. Did the cafe relegate the full service bike shop to the rear, or did the bike shop shoehorn its way into the cafe? I couldn’t make out its evolution.Smashed avocado with feta, lemon with poached egg on sourdough. Delicious.]]>
Tue, 03 Jun 2014 22:54:17 +0000http://stevenyan.co/breakfast-in-melbourne
http://stevenyan.co/breakfast-in-melbourneThe Day Before President's DayFour years ago, I randomly picked a bottle of Unti Vineyards 2007 Syrah off of a shelf at Whole Foods in San Mateo. Unti has since become our favorite local vintner and we make an annual day trip to visit the winery for a tasting.I also like Cajun food — it’s one of the few true American gastronomic creations. We stopped at Parish Cafe in Healdsburg for po’boys, gumbo, and fried okra. Nom.]]>
Sun, 16 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000http://stevenyan.co/the-day-before-presidents-day
http://stevenyan.co/the-day-before-presidents-day